Subaru's R1e Electric Vehicle Coming to Geneva

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Subaru's R1e Electric Vehicle Coming to Geneva

Subaru will also be showing off its R1e electric vehicle in Geneva. Two weeks ago, Japan's Environment Minister awarded Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru's parent) the 2006 Commendation for Global Warming Prevention for developing the R1e and its high-speed charger, built jointly with Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) and NEC Lamilion Energy.

Designed for urban use, the R1e has a battery that can be speed-charged to 80 percent in 15 minutes — much faster than a typical electric car, and at half the typical cost — after an initial 8-hour at-home charge. The battery should last at least 10 years, which, in Japan, translates to about 200,000 km. The lightweight R1e goes up to 100km/h and produces 40kW at 6000 rpm.

TEPCO is now using 10 of the vehicles for daily business operations, and plans to boost that within five years to 3000 vehicles supported by 150 fast-charge stations. Subaru says it will market the R1e "as a short-distance commuter car based on the Subaru R1 minivehicle currently available on the Japanese market." The company also reportedly plans to license the technology to other automakers.